Grŵp Cynefin supporting the campaign to increase Housing Support Grant

Grŵp Cynefin is supporting the national #HousingMattersWales campaign, calling on the Welsh Government to increase the Housing Support Grant in 2024/25.

Gorwel, the part of Grŵp Cynefin that provides services to people experiencing domestic abuse, receives Housing Support Grant and recently highlighted the shocking growth in demand for their services.

Osian Elis, Chief Officer at Gorwel says: “We have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for the services we provide in Anglesey and Gwynedd. Between July and September last year we helped 165 people in their own homes who were experiencing abuse. This year that figure is 293. This is a 77.6% increase in one year.”

Asked why he thought this was the case, Osian says: “This is one impact of the cost-of-living crisis. For us, the problem is that our resources are limited too. We haven’t had an increase in the funding to provide these services for a number of years, so each year we have to do more with less.”

Service user Jen says that Gorwel’s support saved her life: “The services are invaluable,” she says. “My support worker saved my life. She helped me take back control and start writing my own destiny. I couldn’t have done that without her.”

Unfortunately, many organisations across Wales are facing funding pressures. Cymorth Cymru and Community Housing Cymru are running the #HousingMattersWales campaign to highlight what is happening.

Katie Dalton, Director of Cymorth Cymru says: “The majority of support providers across Wales are reporting an increase in demand for their services. Costs of delivering services have increased by 11% this year, yet funding has decreased by £24million in real terms since 2012.

“75% of support providers are subsidising contracts that are supposed to be funded by the Housing Support Grant, which is completely unsustainable. It is clear that the Welsh Government needs to increase the Housing Support Grant to ensure these vital services can continue to deliver this often life-saving support to people across Wales.”

Background:

Gorwel is the part of Grŵp Cynefin housing association that provides quality services to support people who have lost or are at risk of losing their homes and people surviving domestic abuse. The organisation works with individuals and families, including tenants of Grŵp Cynefin, in three counties in north Wales: Anglesey, Gwynedd and Denbighshire. Services that tackle domestic abuse are provided in Anglesey and Gwynedd.

The #HousingMattersWales campaign is being run by Cymorth Cymru – the umbrella organisation for housing support, domestic abuse and homelessness services; and Community Housing Cymru – the representative body for housing associations. Their report demonstrates the impact of the combination of funding cuts and rising needs on both those using and providing services. The report can be accessed here: HM-report-WG-Budget-24-25-ENG.pdf (cymorthcymru.org.uk)

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Mari Williams, Communications and Marketing Manager, Grŵp Cynefin

Mari.Williams@grwpcynefin.org / 07970 142 305